Queen spends 89th birthday celebrating with Royal family at Windsor Castle - Telegraph Queen spends 89th birthday celebrating with Royal family at Windsor Castle The Queen is having a relaxing week at Windsor as she enters her 90th year on Tuesday The Queen will be 89 on Tuesday, April 21 Photo: Getty Images By Gordon Rayner , Chief Reporter 7:49PM BST 20 Apr 2015 Follow The Queen will spend her 89th birthday on Tuesday celebrating quietly with members of the Royal family at Windsor Castle as she takes a rare week off from official engagements. Her Majesty will still go through her daily quota of government red boxes, as she does every day except Christmas Day, but will otherwise be able to relax with the Duke of Edinburgh as she enters her 90th year. The Prince of Wales , the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex have also kept their diaries free, suggesting they may join her for a birthday celebration at some point during the day. She could even receive a visit from her great-grandson, Prince George , if the Duchess of Cambridge is feeling well enough to make the trip, or of the Duke of Cambridge has a day off from his air ambulance pilot training.

The Queen normally spends weekdays at Buckingham Palace during working periods of the year, but has decided to stay at Windsor, which she prefers, where she will personally open a selection of birthday cards sent to her from around the world. Like the Duke of Edinburgh, the Queen dislikes the idea of anyone “making a fuss” over her birthday, and any family celebration is likely to be a low-key affair. It is the fourth successive year that the Queen has celebrated her birthday privately at Windsor, though two of her previous three birthdays were on a weekend. The Queen is already the world's oldest reigning monarch • What happened when a princess went walkabout on VE Day? Her 85th birthday fell on Maundy Thursday, when Her Majesty gave out Maundy money at a service in Westminster Abbey, and on her 80th birthday she went on a walkabout in Windsor to greet crowds who had gathered the celebrate the milestone. The Queen will be back in action on Saturday, when she attends a service at Westminster Abbey to mark the centenary of the Gallipoli campaign in the First World War. A 41-gun salute will be fired by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery from Green Park in central London at midday to mark the occasion.

The Queen’s official birthday is marked by Trooping the Colour in June. » British: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Happy 90th Birthday British: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Happy 90th Birthday Happy 90th Queen Elizabeth II! Long to reign over us: Queen Elizabeth II The Queen has become the second-longest reigning monarch in 1,000 years of British history. She has now overtaken George III, who reigned for 59 years, 96 days plus 13 extra leap-year days, totalling 21,644 days. Only one royal ancestor has had greater longevity on the throne: the Queen’s great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria. The Queen, who celebrates her diamond jubilee next year, acceded the throne on February 6, 1952. She has reigned for 59 years and 95 days plus 15 extra leap-year days, totalling 21,645 days. In this gallery we look back at her life in pictures. Queen Elizabeth II ‘A Queen is Crowned’ Documentary Film – 1953 Why does the Queen Elizabeth II have TWO birthdays?

Before Elizabeth II turns 90 tomorrow, here is a look at why the Queen has two birthdays a year. In the evening the Queen will light the first in the chain of 1,000 beacons nationwide in a spectacular celebration of her milestone birthday. Britons across the nation are being encouraged to attend a beacon lighting ceremonies on mountaintops, beaches, farmyards, church towers and other locations. The Prince of Wales said: “I am delighted that so many people throughout the United Kingdom are coming together to light beacons in celebration of my mother, the Queen’s, ninetieth birthday. It is a wonderful gesture which I know has deeply touched Her Majesty.” Saturday June 11: The Queen’s official birthday The Queen’s official birthday is always marked with a traditional parade known as the Trooping of the Colour. Elizabeth II will travel by carriage from Buckingham Palace to inspect her personal troops in Horse Guards Parade in a televised ceremony at 10am. The Royal family will then appear on the balcony of the palace to watch a fly-past at 1pm.

Sunday June 12: Patron’s Lunch street party The Mall outside Buckingham Palace will be turned into a huge street party where 10,000 guests will enjoy a picnic and street performances. Most tickets are going to charities and organisations of which the Queen is patron. But there will also be big screens in St James’ Park and Green Park. Royalists around the country will also get together to hold their own street parties to celebrate the Queen’s birthday. (express.co.uk) 2 June 1953: Queen Elizabeth II at her coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey. The coronation of the Queen was the first ever to be televised, and many British families bought their first television set so that they could watch the ceremony June 2,1953: Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. 2 June 1953: The newly crowned Queen Elizabeth II waves to the crowd from the balcony at Buckingham Palace. Her children Prince Charles and Princess Anne stand with her. Opening of Parliament: 1952, Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, opened Parliament for the first time in her reign.

Official jewels: Queen Elizabeth II wearing the Imperial State Crown and the Duke of Edinburgh in uniform of Admiral of the Fleet pril 1959: Queen Elizabeth II in Badminton Great Park as she attends the second day of the Badminton Horse Trials.

Behind her is Princess Margaret and the Duke of Beaufort 1960 : Queen Elizabeth II makes her way to a dais to watch the Durbar of the Ashanti Chiefs in Ghana 961: Queen Elizabeth II, on elephant with Maharaja of Jaipur, waving to crowd while riding through palace on visit during republic’s 13th anniversary 961: Queen Elizabeth II, on elephant with Maharaja of Jaipur, waving to crowd while riding through palace on visit during republic’s 13th anniversary On The Red Carpet: July 1963, Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh, wearing their Order of the Thistle robes, after the Order’s service in Edinburgh Queen Elizabeth II inspecting a guard of honour at Brisbane Airport on her arrival from Canberra February 1979: Queen Elizabeth II in Bahrain as part of her extensive tour of the Gulf States, accompanied by the Emir of Bahrain, Sheikh Isa bin Sulman Al-Khalifa Qatar, 1979 – Queen Elizabeth II walking with the Emir of Qatar Picture: REX November 1983, Queen Elizabeth II inspects the Guard of Honour at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Oct 1986

, Queen Elizabeth II sips Dragon Well tea at a 400-year-old tea house in the old quarter of the city Nov 1999: The Queen is welcomed by traditional Mozambican dancers at the Polana Hotel, Maputo, Mozambique 1971: HM The Queen on horseback looking towards Balmoral Castle May 1993: Queen Elizabeth II at the state banquet at Budapest’s Parliament during her state visit If you want to join the fun, read these facts about the Queen on her birthday, collected from EuroNews , the Independent , TIME and Royal Central : She has been the head monarch of the United Kingdom since 1952.

She knows how to speak French and how to drive. The Queen does not have a passport — she doesn’t need one. The first time she was on the cover of TIME, she was 3 years old. She sent her first email in 1976. The Palace launched a YouTube channel in 2007. Her first tweet was in 2014. It read, “It is a pleasure to open the Information Age exhibition today at the @ScienceMuseum and I hope people will enjoy visiting. Elizabeth R.” The Queen technically owns the sturgeons, whales and dolphins in the waters around the U.K. President Barack Obama once gave her an iPod. Her nickname as a child was “Lilibet.” Her corgis eat off of silver platters every day. Her coronation was the first to be on TV. She has more than 130 official portraits. She was once gifted two sloths. She once worked as a military mechanic. She has a private meeting with the prime minister every week. She has about 30 godchildren. One of them is Charles Spencer, the brother of the late Princess Diana. The Queen doesn’t like meals served in the Buckingham Palace to have garlic.

But she does love mangoes. The Queen took a corgi on her honeymoon. She currently has two, Willow and Holly. The Queen loves to watch horse racing — she’s won more than 1,600 races. She has a personal bagpipe player. In 1975, one of the Queen’s representatives fired Australia’s prime minister. (ibtimes.com) 1942: A Cecil Beaton portrait of the teenaged Princess Elizabeth wearing her ATS uniform during World War II Picture: AP 1956: Queen Elizabeth II walking through Windsor Great Park with Prince Charles 8 May 1945: Princess Elizabeth, Queen Elizabeth, Prime Minister Winston Churchill, King George VI and Princess Margaret wave from the balcony of Buckingham 8 May 1945: Princess Elizabeth, Queen Elizabeth, Prime Minister Winston Churchill, King George VI and Princess Margaret wave from the balcony of Buckingham November 20, 1947 — Queen Elizabeth II Married Philip Mountbatten On November 20, 1947, Princess Elizabeth, who later became Queen Elizabeth II, married her distant cousin Philip Mountbatten in a lavish ceremony at Westminster Abbey, London.

Her wedding to the former prince of Greece and Denmark, who renounced his titles in order to marry the English princess, was broadcast to 200 million radio listeners across the globe. The princess was 21-years and her husband 26 at the time of their marriage. Taking place during an economic downturn as a result of World War II, the celebrations lifted the spirits of Elizabeth’s people. She and her husband waved to large crowds from the balcony of Buckingham Palace as they shared their joy with the populace. Elizabeth ascended the throne after her father, King George VI, died in February 1952. She and Philip eventually had four children — Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward. Still a princess, the future Queen Elizabeth II was all smiles while holding her son, Prince Charles, after his christening ceremony on Dec. 14, 1948. PHOTO: Princess Elizabeth holds her two children, Prince Charles and Princess Anne An undated picture shows the royal British couple, Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Philip, with their kids circa 1951. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES Queen Elizabeth II and family pose on the steps of Frogmore House in April 1965.

From left, Prince Andrew looking cheeky, Princess Anne, the baby Prince Edward in the arms of his mother, the Queen, Prince Charles looking up at the sky and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. 1965 ©ILN / Mary Evans / The Image Works 20 November 1972: Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh pose with their children November 1972, The Royal Family pose at In Buckingham Palace, (L-R) The Prince Of Wales, Prince Edward, Her Majesty The Queen, The Duke Of Edinburgh, Prince Andrew And Princess Anne May 1995: Queen Elizabeth II and her youngest son, Prince Edward, watch the carriage driving championships during a visit to the Royal Windsor Horse Show FILE – In this Aug. 4, 1987 file photo, Diana, Princess of Wales, left, and Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II smile to well-wishers outside Clarence House in London. Britain’s Queen Elizabeth celebrates her 90th birthday on Thursday, April 21, 2016.

(AP Photo/Martin Cleaver, File) Queen Elizabeth II through the years – Photos – Queen Elizabeth II through the years – NY Daily News BEST QUEEN ELIZABETH QUOTES: When life seems hard, the courageous do not lie down and accept defeat; instead, they are all the more determined to struggle for a better future. It has been women who have breathed gentleness and care into the hard progress of humankind. I cannot lead you into battle. I do not give you laws or administer justice but I can do something else – I can give my heart and my devotion to these old islands and to all the peoples of our brotherhood of nations. I know of no single formula for success. But over the years I have observed that some attributes of leadership are universal and are often about finding ways of encouraging people to combine their efforts, their talents, their insights, their enthusiasm and their inspiration to work together. The true measure of all our actions is how long the good in them lasts…everything we do, we do for the young. Discrimination still exists. Some people feel that their own beliefs are being threatened. Some are unhappy about unfamiliar cultures.

They all need to be reassured that there is so much to be gained by reaching out to others; that diversity is indeed a strength and not a threat. It has always been easy to hate and destroy. To build and to cherish is much more difficult. I simply ache from smiling. Why are women expected to beam all the time? It’s unfair. If a man looks solemn, it’s automatically assumed he’s a serious person, not a miserable one. I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong. To all those who have suffered as a consequence of our troubled past I extend my sincere thoughts and deep sympathy. With the benefit of historical hindsight we can all see things which we would wish had been done differently or not at all. Like all the best families, we have our share of eccentricities, of impetuous and wayward youngsters and of family disagreements. My husband has quite simply been my strength and stay all these years, and I owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim. Cowards falter, but danger is often overcome by those who nobly dare. Good memories are our second chance at happiness.

When life seems hard, the courageous do not lie down and accept defeat; instead, they are all the more determined to struggle for a better future. In the turbulence of this anxious and active world many people are leading uneventful, lonely lives. To them dreariness, not disaster, is the enemy. They seldom realize that on their steadfastness, on their ability to withstand the fatigue of dull repetitive work, and on their courage in meeting constant small adversities depend in great measure the happiness and prosperity of the community as a whole. … The upward course of a nation’s history is due in the long run to the soundness of heart of its average men and women. There are long periods when life seems a small, dull round, a petty business with no point, and then suddenly we are caught up in some great event which gives us a glimpse of the solid and durable foundations of our existence. True patriotism doesn’t exclude an understanding of the patriotism of others. Let us not take ourselves too seriously. None of us has a monopoly on wisdom. Families, friends and communities often find a source of courage rising up from within. Indeed, sadly, it seems that it is tragedy that often draws out the most and the best from the human spirit.

The lessons from the peace process are clear; whatever life throws at us, our individual responses will be all the stronger for working together and sharing the load. Grief is the price we pay for love. The Queen's birthday 2015: 15 things you never knew about Her Majesty | Metro News It’s cake time for the Queen today (April 21), who’s celebrating her 89th birthday. Today is her real birthday, while her official birthday is on Saturday, June 13. So, to celebrate the Queen’s birthday, here’s 15 things you never knew about Her Majesty. 1. She has two birthdays to ensure a decent knees up The queen has two birthdays so there’s better chance of good weather for her birthday parade aka Trooping the Colour. Her Majesty was born on April 21, 1926 and, let’s face it, there’s more chance of sun in June. 2. She became queen when she was Taylor Swift’s age – 25. Queen of pop (Picture: AP) 3.

She speaks ‘handbag’ Rumour has it if she wants to leave a dinner in five minutes, she puts her bag on the table to tell her staff she’s ready to leave. She moves it from arm to arm to tell aides she is tired of talking to someone. 4. She loves a boogie Specifically Scottish country dancing. Each year she hosts Gillies’ Balls – dances at Balmoral for neighbours, staff and locals. 5. She has owned more than 30 corgis during her reign Her first one, Susan, was an 18th birthday present. 6. Here she is as a kid She’s the older one – her little sister is the late Princess Margaret, who died aged 71 in 2002. 7. To her husband, she’s just a sausage Prince Philip’s pet names for The Queen are said to include ‘sausage’ and ‘cabbage’. 8. She made her first public speech when she was 14 This was recorded for the BBC in 1940, when children were being evacuated for safety reasons. 9. She loves a crime thriller Some of her favourite authors are PD James, Agatha Christie and Dick Francis. 10.

She has her own train Choo choosing a different mode of transport (Picture: PA) The Queen usually travels round the UK by helicopter or RAF aircraft but sometimes she uses a train presented to her in 1977 to mark her Silver Jubilee. It has eight saloons pulled by a Royal Class 67 diesel locomotive – either 67005 Queen’s Messenger or 67006 Royal Sovereign. Here’s why The Queen has two birthdays, and you only get one The carriages are maroon with red and black coach lining and a grey roof. Her saloon has a bedroom, bathroom and sitting room, and The Duke of Edinburgh’s Saloon has a similar layout plus a kitchen. There are also dining and support cars. 11. She’s head of state of 15 Commonwealth countries Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Papua New Guinea, St Christopher and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Tuvalu, Barbados, Grenada, Solomon Islands, St Lucia and The Bahamas. 12.

She spends hump day with the PM David Cameron (Picture: AFP) Most Wednesdays, at 6.30pm, she has a meeting with the Prime Minister. Nobody except the two of them knows what is said during this time – these meetings are confidential. 13. Her middle names are Alexandra Mary After her paternal great-grandmother and paternal grandmother. 14. She’s the patron of more than 600 charities Everything from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home to the English Table Tennis Association. 15. Just like that Tommy Cooper (Picture: Popperfoto/Getty) After a royal performance, Tommy Cooper asked The Queen: ‘Do you mind if I ask you a personal question?’ She said: ‘No, but I might not be able to give you a full answer.’ He said: ‘Do you like football?

She said: ‘Well, not really.’ He said: ‘In that case, do you mind if I have your Cup Final tickets?’ The Queen's birthday - 85 facts you should know about The Queen - Telegraph Queen Elizabeth II The Queen's birthday - 85 facts you should know about The Queen The Queen will celebrate her 85th birthday today by attending the traditional Royal Maundy Service at Westminster Abbey. Below of 85 facts you should know about the Queen. The Queen is celebrating her 85th birthday Photo: AFP 7:00AM BST 21 Apr 2011 Early years 1. The Queen was born at 2.40am on 21 April 1926 at 17 Bruton Street in Mayfair, London. 2. She was the first child of The Duke and Duchess of York, who later became King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. 3. At the time she stood third in line of succession to the throne after Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII), and her father, The Duke of York. But it was not expected that her father would become King, or that she would become Queen. 4.

The Princess was christened Elizabeth Alexandra Mary in the private chapel at Buckingham Palace. She was named after her mother, while her two middle names are those of her paternal great-grandmother, Queen Alexandra, and paternal grandmother, Queen Mary. Related Articles The truth about growing old 24 Apr 2011 5. The Princess's early years were spent at 145 Piccadilly, the London house taken by her parents shortly after her birth, and at White Lodge in Richmond Park. 6. When she was six years old, her parents took over Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park as their own country home 7. Princess Elizabeth was educated at home with Princess Margaret, her younger sister. 8. She received tuition from her father, as well as sessions with Henry Marten, the Vice-Provost of Eton. She was also instructed in religion by the Archbishop of Canterbury. 9. Princess Elizabeth also learned French from a number of French and Belgian governesses. It is a skill which has stood The Queen in good stead, as she often has cause to use it when speaking to ambassadors and heads of state from French-speaking countries, and when visiting French-speaking areas of Canada. 10.

Princess Elizabeth enrolled as a Girl Guide when she was eleven, and later became a Sea Ranger. 11. In 1940, at the height of the Blitz, the young Princesses were moved for their safety to Windsor Castle, where they spent most of the war years. A Royal romance 12. The Queen is the first British monarch to have celebrated a Diamond Wedding Anniversary. 13.Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip first met when they attended the wedding of Prince Philip's cousin, Princess Marina of Greece to The Duke of Kent, who was an uncle of Princess Elizabeth, in 1934. 14.The engagement between Princess Elizabeth and Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten RN was announced on the 9th July, 1947. Prince Philip was born Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark. He joined the Royal Navy in 1939 and after the war, in February 1947, became a naturalised British subject. Prince Philip was required to choose a surname in order to continue his career in the Royal Navy, and adopted Mountbatten, the name of his mother's British relatives. He was created "Duke of Edinburgh" by King George VI on marriage.

15.The platinum and diamond engagement ring was made by the jewellers, Philip Antrobus Ltd, using diamonds from a tiara belonging to Prince Philip's mother. 16.Prince Philip had two stag parties the night before the wedding - the first at the Dorchester to which the press were invited and the second with his closest friends at the Belfry Club. 17.The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh were married in Westminster Abbey on the 20th November, 1947 at 11.30am with 2000 invited guests. 18..The eight bridesmaids were: HRH The Princess Margaret, HRH Princess Alexandra of Kent, Lady Caroline Montagu-Douglas-Scott, Lady Mary Cambridge, Lady Elizabeth Lambart, The Hon. Pamela Mountbatten, The Hon. Margaret Elphinstone, The Hon. Diana Bowes-Lyon. 19.There were two pages: HRH Prince William of Gloucester (aged 5) and HRH Prince Michael of Kent (aged 5). 20.The Queen's wedding dress was designed by Sir Norman Hartnell. Norman Hartnell submitted designs for the dress in August 1947.

21.The fabric for the dress was woven at Winterthur Silks Limited, Dunfermline, in the Canmore factory, using silk that had come from Chinese silkworms at Lullingstone Castle. 22..The Queen's Bridal Veil was made of tulle and held by a tiara of diamonds. This tiara (which can also be worn as a necklace) was made for Queen Mary in 1919. It is made from re-used diamonds taken from a necklace/tiara purchased by Queen Victoria from Collingwood and Co and a wedding present for Queen Mary in 1893. In August, 1936, Queen Mary gave the tiara to Queen Elizabeth from whom it was borrowed by Princess Elizabeth for her wedding in 1947. 23.The grave of the Unknown Warrior was the only stone that was not covered by the special carpet in the Abbey. The day after the wedding, Princess Elizabeth followed a Royal tradition started by her mother, of sending her wedding bouquet back to the Abbey to be laid on this grave.

24.The bride's wedding ring was made from a nugget of Welsh gold which came from the Clogau St David's mine near Dolgellau. 25..Around 10,000 telegrams of congratulations were received at Buckingham Palace and the Royal couple received over 2,500 wedding presents from well-wishers around the world. 26..As well as jewellery from their close relatives, including the King and Queen, the couple received many useful items for the kitchen and home, including salt cellars from the Queen, a bookcase from Queen Mary, and a picnic case from Princess Margaret. 27.The "wedding breakfast" (lunch) was held after the marriage ceremony at Westminster Abbey in the Ball Supper-room at Buckingham Palace. The menu was Filet de Sole Mountbatten, Perdreau en Casserole, Bombe Glacee Princess Elizabeth. 28.The couple departed Waterloo station with the Princess's corgi, Susan, for their honeymoon. 29.The newlyweds spent their wedding night at Broadlands in Hampshire, home of Prince Philip's uncle Earl Mountbatten. The second part of the honeymoon was spent at Birkhall on the Balmoral Estate.

30.Early in 1948 the couple leased their first marital home, Windlesham Moor, in Surrey, near Windsor Castle, where they stayed until they moved to Clarence House on 4th July 1949. 31.After marrying Princess Elizabeth, The Duke of Edinburgh continued his naval career, reaching the rank of Lieutenant-Commander in command of the frigate HMS Magpie. 32.Although he was The Queen's husband, The Duke of Edinburgh was not crowned or anointed at the Coronation ceremony in 1953. He was the first subject to pay Homage to Her Majesty, and kiss the newly crowned Queen by stating "I, Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, do become your liege man of life and limb, and of earthly worship; and faith and truth I will bear unto you, to live and die, against all manner of folks. So help me God." 33.Prince Philip has accompanied The Queen on all her Commonwealth tours and State visits, as well as on public engagements in all parts of the UK.

The first of these was the Coronation tour of the Commonwealth from November 1953 to May 1954, when the couple visited Bermuda, Jamaica, Panama, Fiji, Tonga, New Zealand, Australia, Cocos Islands, Ceylon, Aden, Uganda, Libya, Malta and Gibraltar, travelling a distance of 43,618 miles. 34. The Coronation took place in Westminster Abbey on 2 June 1953. It was a solemn ceremony conducted by Dr Geoffrey Fisher, Archbishop of Canterbury. 35. The Coronation was followed by drives through every part of London, a review of the fleet at Spithead, and visits to Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. 36.The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh have four children: Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales (b. 1948), Princess Anne, The Princess Royal (b. 1950), Prince Andrew, The Duke of York (b. 1960), and Prince Edward, The Earl of Wessex (b. 1964).

37.With the birth of Prince Andrew in 1960, The Queen became the first reigning Sovereign to give birth to a child since Queen Victoria, whose youngest child, Princess Beatrice, was born in 1857. 38.The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh have eight grandchildren - Peter Phillips (b. 1977), Zara Phillips (b. 1981) Prince William (b. 1982), Prince Harry (b. 1984), Princess Beatrice (b. 1988), Princess Eugenie (b. 1990), Lady Louise Windsor (b. 2003) and James, Viscount Severns (b. 2007) She has one great-grandchild Savannah (b. 2011) Queen's speeches 39. The Queen has delivered a Christmas message every year except in 1969, when she decided the royals had been on TV enough after an unprecedented family documentary. Her greeting took the form of a written address. 40. In her 1991 message, the Queen silenced rumours of abdication as she pledged to continue to serve. 41.

The Queen issued a writ against The Sun newspaper after it published the full text of her 1992 broadcast two days before transmission. She later accepted an apology and a £200,000 donation to charity. 42. The Queen's grandfather, King George V, delivered the first royal Christmas broadcast live on the radio from Sandringham in 1932. 43. George V was at first unsure about using the relatively untried medium of the wireless, but eventually agreed. 44. There was no Christmas broadcast in 1936 or 1938, and it was the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 that firmly established the tradition. 45. Last year the Queen delivered her address from Hampton Court Palace - the first time the historic building had been used. 46 The speech is written by the Queen and each has a strong religious framework, reflects current issues and often draws on her own experiences. Interest and hobbies 48. An animal lover since childhood, The Queen takes a keen and highly knowledgeable interest in horses.

As an owner and breeder of thoroughbreds, she often visits other race meetings to watch her horses run, and also frequently attends equestrian events. 49. She attends the Derby at Epsom, one of the classic flat races in Britain, and the Summer Race Meeting at Ascot, which has been a Royal occasion since 1911. 50. The Queen's horses won races at Royal Ascot on a number of occasions. There was a notable double on 18 June 1954 when Landau won the Rous Memorial Stakes and a stallion called Aureole won the Hardwicke Stakes, and in 1957 The Queen had four winners during Ascot week. 51. Other interests include walking in the countryside and working her Labradors, which were bred at Sandringham. 52. A lesser known interest is Scottish country dancing. Each year during her stay at Balmoral Castle, The Queen gives dances known as Gillies' Balls, for neighbours, estate and Castle staff and members of the local community. 53. The Queen is the only person in Britain who can drive without a licence or a registration number on her car.

And she doesn't have a passport. 54. The Queen is patron to more than 600 charities 55. To formally greet the Queen men should perform a neck bow (from the head only) whilst women do a small curtsy. On presentation to The Queen, the correct formal address is 'Your Majesty' and subsequently 'Ma'am'. Fashion 56. Norman Hartnell, who first worked for the then Princess Elizabeth in the 1940s, produced many of the finest evening dresses in Her Majesty’s wardrobe. His signature style of the 1940s and 1950s was full-skirted dresses in sumptuous silks and duchesse satins 57. Hardy Amies began designing clothes for The Queen in the early 1950s and established his name with the deceptive simplicity of his accomplished tailoring. The portraits by Cecil Beaton released to mark Her Majesty’s birthday in 1969 the are amongst the most memorable designs by Hardy Amies. 58. n the 1970s The Queen awarded her patronage to Ian Thomas, who was an assistant designer to Norman Hartnell before setting up his own salon.

Thomas’s flowing chiffon dresses from the 1970s reflect the relaxed style of the decade. Maureen Rose of the same house continued to design for Her Majesty after Ian’s death until the late 80’s. 59. Between 1988 and 1996, Her Majesty’s dresses were designed by John Anderson. His business partner Karl Ludwig Rehse took over the mantle after his death in 1988 and the Queen still wears his designs today. 60. Stewart Parvin, the youngest of Her Majesty’s designers, trained at Edinburgh College of Art. He began to design for The Queen in 2000 and continues to do so. 61. Angela Kelly is Personal Assistant and Senior Dresser to The Queen. Her role includes designing for The Queen, which she has done since 2002. Angela and her team try and use both old and new fabrics when designing. Some of the material they incorporate has been given to Her Majesty many years ago, some dates from when she was Princess Elizabeth. Birthdays 62. The Queen celebrates two birthdays each year: her actual birthday on 21 April and her official birthday on a Saturday in June.

63. The Queen usually spends her actual birthday privately, but the occasion is marked publicly by gun salutes in central London at midday: a 41 gun salute in Hyde Park, a 21 gun salute in Windsor Great Park and a 62 gun salute at the Tower of London. 64. In 2006, Her Majesty celebrated her 80th Birthday in 2006 with a walkabout in the streets outside of Windsor Castle to meet well-wishers. 65. On her official birthday, Her Majesty is joined by other members of the Royal Family at the spectacular Trooping the Colour parade which moves between Buckingham Palace, The Mall and Horseguards’ Parade. And the rest... 66. Queen Elizabeth II is the fortieth monarch since William the Conqueror 67. She has visited Australia 15 times, Canada 23 times, Jamaica six times and New Zealand ten times 68. She has sent around 100,000 telegrams to centenarians in the UK and the Commonwealth 69. The Queen has launched 23 ships and met five astronauts at Buckingham Palace 70.

She first flew in an aeroplane in July 1945 71. She is the only British monarch in history properly trained to change a spark plug 72. On VE Day she and her sister slipped into the crowd to celebrate 73. She collected clothing coupons for her wedding dress 74. The Queen has a bank account at Coutts & Co. There is a Coutts cash-dispensing machine in Buckingham Palace 75. The Queen celebrated her Golden Jubilee in 2002, including visiting 70 cities and towns around the UK 76. Tony Blair was the first prime minister to be born during her reign, which has already seen nine prime ministers 77. The Queen has sat through 91 state banquets and posed for 139 official portraits 78. Technically The Queen still owns the sturgeons, whales and dolphins in the waters around the UK which are recognised as 'Fishes Royal'. She also owns all wild 'mute' swans living in open water. 79.

The Queen introduced a new breed of dog known as the "dorgi", when one of the corgis mated with a dachshund named Pipkin 80. The Queen is the first British monarch to see three of her children divorce 81. She demoted a footman for feeding her corgis whisky 82. The Queen has nine Royal thrones - One at the House of Lords, two at Westminster Abbey, and six in the throne room at Buckingham Palace. 83. She is a Patron of the Royal Pigeon Racing Association. One of the Queen's birds is called Sandringham Lightning 84. There have been six Archbishops of Canterbury during the Queen's reign 85. The Queen is 5ft 4 inches or 160cm tall. The Queen's two birthdays | The Royal Mint UK Cities Her Majesty The Queen was born on 21 April 1926. She was the first child of The Duke and Duchess of York, who later became King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. Christened Elizabeth Alexandra Mary in the private chapel at Buckingham Palace, Princess Elizabeth spent much of her early years enjoying a quiet family life with her parents and sister Princess Margaret.

In 1936, when her grandfather, King George V died, her uncle came to the throne as King Edward VIII. Before the end of the year, King Edward VIII abdicated and Princess Elizabeth's father acceded to the throne as King George VI. On the death of her father George VI in 1952, Princess Elizabeth became Queen at the age of 25. The Queen is married to Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh and has four children and eight grandchildren. Her Majesty The Queen celebrates two birthdays every year: her actual birthday on 21 April and her official birthday on a Saturday in June. Official celebrations to mark a sovereign's birthday have often been held on a day other than the actual birthday, particularly when the actual birthday has not been in the summer. King Edward VII, for example, was born on 9 November, but his official birthday was marked throughout his reign in May or June when there was a greater likelihood of good weather for the Birthday Parade, also known as Trooping the Colour.

Trooping the Colour is carried out by fully trained and operational troops from the Household Division (Foot Guards and Household Cavalry) on Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall, watched by members of the Royal Family, invited guests and members of the public. During the ceremony, the Queen is greeted by a Royal salute and carries out an inspection of the troops. For many years The Queen rode on horseback, usually on her favoured horse Burmese, however in recent years the Queen has ridden in a carriage. After the massed bands have performed a musical ‘troop’, the escorted Regimental Colour is carried down the ranks. Related Products Home • The Queen's 90th Birthday Celebration Home Park Private Windsor Castle HM QUEEN ELIZABETH II The Queen was born at 2.40am on 21 April 1926 at 17 Bruton Street in Mayfair, London. She was the first child of The Duke and Duchess of York, who later became King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. At the time she stood third in line of succession to the throne after Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII), and her father, The Duke of York.

But it was not expected that her father would become King, or that she would become Queen. The Princess was christened Elizabeth Alexandra Mary in the private chapel at Buckingham Palace. She was named after her mother, while her two middle names are those of her paternal great-grandmother, Queen Alexandra, and paternal grandmother, Queen Mary. Princess Elizabeth was educated at home with Princess Margaret, her younger sister. Princess Elizabeth was a strong swimmer. She won the Children’s Challenge Shield at London’s Bath Club when she was 13. Princess Elizabeth enrolled as a Girl Guide when she was 11, and later became a Sea Ranger. In 1940, at the height of the Blitz, the young Princesses were moved for their safety to Windsor Castle, where they spent most of the War years. Princess Elizabeth married Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten in Westminster Abbey on 20 November 1947. The event was fairly simple, as Britain was still recovering from the War, and Princess Elizabeth had to collect clothing coupons for her dress, like any other young bride. Princess Elizabeth visited Malta four times while Prince Philip was stationed there on naval duties, and enjoyed the life of a naval wife and young mother.

On Wednesday, 6 February 1952, Princess Elizabeth received the news of her father’s death and her own Accession to the throne, while staying in a remote part of Kenya. Princess Elizabeth made her first public speech in October 1940, when she was 14. In a live broadcast, she sent a message during the BBC’s children’s programme to all the children of Britain and the Commonwealth, particularly to those children who were being evacuated for safety reasons. During their visit to Australia and New Zealand in 1970, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh initiated a new practice – the ‘walkabout’ – to allow them to meet as many people as possible. In 1977, The Queen marked 25 years as Sovereign. The Silver Jubilee was met with a nationwide tour, Commonwealth visits and celebrations at every level. The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh travelled 56,000 miles in total to mark the occasion in as many parts of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth as possible. On 20 November 1997, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh celebrated their Golden Wedding.

A special garden party for couples celebrating their Golden Wedding was held at Buckingham Palace in July. In 2006, The Queen celebrated her 80th birthday with a public walkabout in Windsor town centre. She also hosted a lunch for other people celebrating their 80th birthday on the same day, and enjoyed a family dinner at Kew Palace. In 2011, Her Majesty undertook an historic visit to Ireland, the first visit by a British monarch since Ireland gained independence. The Queen attends the Derby at Epsom, one of the classic flat races in Britain, and the Summer Race Meeting at Ascot, which has been a Royal occasion since 1911. As an owner and breeder of thoroughbreds, she often visits other race meetings to watch her horses run, and also frequently attends equestrian events. The Queen’s horses have won races at Royal Ascot on a number of occasions. There was a notable double on 18 June 1954, when Landau won the Rous Memorial Stakes and a stallion called Aureole won the Hardwicke Stakes; in 1957, The Queen had four winners during Royal Ascot week.

Other interests include walking in the countryside and working her Labradors, which were bred at Sandringham. A lesser-known interest is Scottish country dancing. Each year during her stay at Balmoral Castle, The Queen gives dances known as Gillies’ Balls, for neighbours, estate and Castle staff and members of the local community. Click on the dot to see the whole lot LOCATION The Queen’s 90th Birthday Celebration took place in the private grounds of Windsor Castle in a purpose-built arena, used by Royal Windsor Horse Show during the day. This stunning setting provided beautiful views of the lit-up Castle by night and this is the only time of the year that the public are allowed into the grounds. Queen's 90th Birthday 2016, Trooping the Colour, Celebrations, Traditions & History Official site: The Queen's 90th Birthday Celebration Happy Birthday, Your Majesty! Queen Elizabeth II will celebrate her 90th birthday in 2016 with -- need we say it? -- a birthday party fit for a queen! Great Britain is pulling out all the stops this year with a 90-minute multimedia event commemorating "a life well lived".

The party staged at Windsor Castle outside London will include 900 horses and more than 1,500 participants from around the United Kingdom -- and the world -- who will take part in the retrospective. All about Queen Elizabeth II's 90th Birthday Party Although she was actually born on April 21, the official birthday of Queen Elizabeth II is celebrated each year in the UK on a weekend in June for purely practical reasons. The day usually presents more acceptable weather for a public party! However, in 2016 the party is being moved up a month, and celebrated over four days from Thursday, May 12th to Sunday, May 15th 2016. The festivities this year will include a look back at her birth, through World War II, her marriage and family, and her more than 60-year reign as the world's longest-reigning monarch. Performers will come from a number of countries including Oman, Chile, New Zealand, Canada, Fiji, Australia, Azerbaijan and the UK. With a nod to tradition, the 90th birthday celebration will also include The Queen’s Mounted Troops and more than 100 pipers.

If you're not in town on the big day, the festivities traditionally air live, all or in part on BBC One. As well as in London and Windsor , events related to the Queen's Birthday are scheduled throughout Great Britain, in New Zealand (first Monday in June), Australia (second Monday in June), and in Canada , (on the last weekend in May on Victoria Day ) when schools are usually closed and bank holidays called to celebrate with a day off. A 1924 London Underground poster told commuters how to get to the celebration. Queen's birthday fun facts • The first British monarch to celebrate their birthday other than his actual birth date was King Edward VII. Although born on November 9, his official birthday was marked throughout his reign in May or June when there was a greater likelihood of good weather for Trooping the Colour. • In the UK, the most important and watched event related to the day is the historic military ceremony known as Trooping the Colour - with a parade down The Mall to Horse Guards Parade , including a fly-past of military aircraft and gun salutes fired at noon at Hyde Park. • Today, Australia is the only country in the world to celebrate the Queen's Birthday not once, but TWICE.

While most of the country observes the day on the second Monday in June, Western Australia celebrates the Queen's birthday on the last Monday in September or the first Monday in October. More about the Queen's birthday around the Web: Around the Web, find out more at top sites offering facts, information, picture galleries and historical background celebrating the life and times of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II ... The Queen's Birthdays - The official British Monarchy web site explains the tradition and celebrations with more on the Trooping the Colour. Trooping the Colour (The Queen's Birthday Parade) - History, tradition and customs surrounding the annual celebration held at Horse Guards Parade at Whitehall with related pictures. Trooping the Colour - Photos from the Queen's Birthday Parade - Take the virtual tour in a large photo collection courtesy of UKStudentLife.com. Queen's Birthday - How it's celebrated in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and at other points around the globe, from Wikipedia.

Queen Elizabeth II: Celebrating Her Majesty's 90th Birthday - ABC News ABC News Queen Elizabeth II: Celebrating Her Majesty's 90th Birthday By OLIVIA SMITH Apr 18, 2016, 6:04 AM ET 0 Shares WATCH Queen Elizabeth II: Celebrating Her Majesty's 90th Birthday 0 Shares Email The queen of England, the longest-reigning monarch in British history, is celebrating her 90th birthday on April 21, 2016. Born Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary in 1926, her majesty was not in line to become queen until her uncle abdicated the throne. Some fun facts about the queen: she was nicknamed "Lilibet" by her family as a child, and she volunteered as a mechanic during World War II. Watch the video above to learn more about Queen Elizabeth II in a minute.

Question: On what date is her majesty Queen Elizabeth's real birthday?
Answer: APRIL 21st